Vehicle-frame brace



M. E. CROW.

VEHICLE FRAME BRACE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15, 19l9.

1,842,623. PdtentedJune.8,1920.

Inventor.

y 6m WGLMW.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN E. CROW, 0F ELKI-IARTQINDIANA.

VEHICLE-FRAME BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN E. CROW, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Elkhart, county of Elkhart, Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Frame Braces, ofwhich the following is a specificatiom This invention relates to vehicleframes,

and more especially to transverse bracing for automobile frames.

As constructed .at present automobile frames have no transverse braceconnecting the extreme front ends of the longitudinal side framemembers, the nearest transverse frame member being located remotely fromthe spring connection with the front end of each frame side member. Thisstructure is subject to severe torsional and lateral stresses on roughor uneven roads and is a material weakening factor in the frame of anautomobile. A

An object ofmy invention is to provide a transverse brace memberconnecting the spring carrier members which are mounted upon the extremeforward end of each longitudinal frame side member. Other objects of myinvention are mentioned and described herein.;

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top plan View of a fragmentof a motor car frame to which my invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof showing a fragment of a leaf spring connectedtherewith; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the front end of one frame sidemember and the spring carrier member mounted thereon; Fig. 4 is asection taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of oneof the spring carrier members showing the brace connection therewith;and Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5. Similarnumerals. of reference indicate like members throughout the severalviews on the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate thetwo longitudinal side frame members of a motor car frame which arepreferably of channeled metal and which are connected by one or moretransverse frame braces 3, one only being shown, as is well known in theart. The frame members, 1 and 2 may be parallel or disposed somewhatconverging, the latter being the present preferred practice in somevehicle. frames. The numerals-4, 4 indiindicate cate a pair of frontspring carrier members mounted upon the front end of the frame sidemembers 1 and 2, each of said spring carriers havlng a shank section 5which is provided with one or more fastener member apertures 6, 6adapted to be engaged by rivets or bolts, not shown, for securing thesame rigidly to the forward end of theside adapted to be engaged by arivet 9, or other suitable substitute, the heads whereof engage theouter surfaces of the flanges of the frame members 1 and 2.- Numerals10, 1O oppositely disposed transverse shoulders formed on the upper andlower outer surfaces of the member 4 and against which the flange endsof the side-frame members land 2 are adapted to engage to effect greaterrigidity between member 4 and said frame member.

The numeral 11 indicates the fragment of a leafspring the forward endwhereof is adapted to project into the opening 12 formed in the member4, the eye of said spring being engaged by a spring carrier bolt 13arranged transversely of the-opening 12, the outer end of said boltbeing mounted in the aperture 14 formed in the outer wall 15 of themember 4, and the inner end of said bolt being screw threaded into the aerture 16' formed in the annular boss 17. he boss 17 may be formedintegral with each member 4 and projects laterally therefrom in ahorizontal plane, the two bosses being disposed substantially oppositeeach other and in opposed relation.

The numeral 18 indicates a tubular brace or reinforcing member theopposite open ends whereof are mounted upon the bosses 17 and inencompassment thereof. The end of the'tubular brace 18 may engage theannular shoulder 19 0f the member 4. Preferably, the brace 18 is weldedto each of the bosses 17 to effect the maximum of rigidity Patented June8, 1920.

and permanency of frame structure, but may be fastened otherwise withgood results.

I claim:

V 1. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame having spacedlongitudinal side members; a spring carrier mounted upon the forward endof each frame side member; a transverse member Connecting said carriermembers; and a complementary projection and socket connection betweeneach end of said transverse member and one of said spring carriers.

2. In combination with the frame of a vehicle having spaced longitudinalside members, a spring carrier member rigidly mounted upon the end ofeach frame side member, each of said carrier members being provided witha laterally projecting boss member, said bosses being opposed; and 'atransverse member having tubular ends, each of said bosses being sleevedby one end of said transverse member.

3. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame having spacedlongitudinal side members; a spring carrier member rigidly mountmember,the ends whereof sleeve said spring carrier projections.

4. Ina vehicle, the combination of a main frame having spacedlongitudinal side members; a spring carrier member rigidly mounted uponthe forward end of each frame side member and provided with a lateralprojection, said projections being substantially opposed; and a tubulartransverse brace member, the ends whereof sleeve said spring carrierprojections and are Welded thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 8th dayof August,

MARTIN E. CROW.

